Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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313. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment about the Programme for Government, and proposals concerning retrofitting; to report on the work his Department has commenced; how this differs from the previous Programme for Government; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23541/25]

Darragh O'Brien (Dublin Fingal East, Fianna Fail)
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The Climate Action Plan and the National Retrofit Plan set ambitious targets to retrofit the equivalent of 500,000 homes to a Building Energy Rating (BER) of B2/cost optimal level and the installation of 400,000 heat pumps in existing homes by end-2030.

The new Programme for Government (Securing Ireland's Future) commits to ramping up the achievement of these targets through continued delivery of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) residential and community energy upgrade schemes, including revising and improving the provision of grants and financing models for homeowners who wish to retrofit, enhancing energy efficiency and reducing costs; as well as the supporting group retrofitting projects and area-based approaches to retrofitting.

In this respect, my Department will continue to build on the progress achieved in recent years. Since 2019, there has been a record level of more than €1.3 billion invested in SEAI schemes to support over 200,000 home energy upgrades, including 65,000 B2s and almost 27,500 fully-funded upgrades for households at risk of energy poverty under the Warmer Homes Scheme.

Looking to this year, a record capital budget of almost €550 million has been allocated to the SEAI residential and community energy upgrade schemes, including the Solar PV Scheme. This allocation will support over 64,500 home energy upgrades to make homes warmer, healthier and more comfortable, with lower emissions and lower bills.

My officials, working in partnership with their counterparts in the SEAI, will seek to progress these commitments over the lifetime of this Government.